Poised Woodbridge Takes Another Step Toward Title

CERRITOS — There were no butterflies, no sweaty palms and certainly no doubt in the minds of the Woodbridge players Tuesday. The top-seeded Warriors showed up relaxed, scored first and defeated Cerritos, 4-0, in a Division II semifinal softball game at the Cerritos Sports Complex.

“They seemed to be very loose when they left practice yesterday, and on the bus over all they were worried about was getting their hair in place,” Woodbridge Coach Alan Dugard said.

Christy Robitaille (23-2) kept the fourth-seeded Dons off-balance with a variety of pitches and the junior right-hander finished with a two-hitter, striking out five and walking two.

“She moves the ball around real well,” Dugard said. “She gets a little bit upset with umpires when they won’t call her corners, she feels like she can hit the corner any time.”

Robitaille received the only run she needed in the first when Natasha Watley and Nichole Thompson sandwiched singles around a sacrifice from Lisa Watanabe, and Watley scored on passed ball.

The Warriors (33-2), who will play Santa Maria Righetti in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday, added two runs in the third on Erica Greenberg’s pinch-hit two-run single.

“When we go ahead it makes me feel more secure as a pitcher,” Robitaille said.

The Warriors added another run in the fifth on a leadoff single by Watanabe and a one-out triple from Lizzy Lemire.

Robitaille held Cerritos hitless until Nichole Maddox got aboard on a bad-hop single to left, putting runners on first and second with one out.

Woodbridge catcher Lindsey Cohan then took the air out of the Dons when she picked off Elizabeth Harsma at second base.